NEW YORK -- It was nearly a full year ago that Will Warren began to fulfill the promise that was envisioned by the Yankees’ pitching department, enjoying a dominant performance against the Rangers at Yankee Stadium.
They got him back on Wednesday. Citing “bad execution,” Warren snapped a string of seven strong outings as Texas knocked the right-hander for a season-high six earned runs in a 6-1 loss – just the Yanks’ third loss in their last 18 games.
"When I attack the zone and execute what we’re supposed to do, then we’re going to have success,” Warren said. “When I get behind and give up free bases, then they’re going to have a lot of success. So I think it’s just flipping the script back to what we’ve been doing.”
Aaron Judge hit his Major League-leading 15th home run, the only blemish against Nathan Eovaldi, who dominated over eight innings.
Judge is the first Yankee since Alex Rodriguez (2007) to hit at least 15 homers through the team’s first 37 games of a season, a feat also achieved by Babe Ruth (1926, ’28) and Mickey Mantle (1956).
Otherwise, the Yanks’ bats were quiet, limited to just three hits. The absence of thumping celebratory music in the clubhouse was noticeable; they had won eight straight in the Bronx, where they’re 13-6 this year.
“It’s going to happen,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
Yerry De Los Santos pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, a contribution which Boone said was “huge.”
Recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre earlier on Wednesday, De Los Santos threw a career-high 54 pitches and was optioned back to the Minors after the game.
Left-hander Ryan Weathers is unable to make his scheduled start on Thursday after dealing with a viral illness earlier in the week; right-hander Paul Blackburn will start in place of Weathers, who will now slot in against the Orioles on Monday.
“My arm feels really good,” Weathers said. “That’s what’s been frustrating; my body still feels strong and my arm felt great. It was one of the weird sicknesses I’ve had, but my arm feels great. I’ll throw a bullpen in the next two days and I should be good to go.”
The Yanks also navigated an injury concern with shortstop José Caballero, who underwent X-rays -- which were negative -- after being hit in the left elbow by a third-inning Eovaldi curveball.
Caballero was in obvious discomfort as he received attention on the field, but he remained in the game.
“He’s always dealing with stuff in his hands and all up in [his upper body],” Warren said. “It was good to see him stay out there and be tough.”
Warren served up Corey Seager’s first-inning solo homer and a two-run shot to Evan Carter, which came as part of a three-run third inning. Warren entered Wednesday 4-0 with a 2.39 ERA, having permitted two earned runs or fewer in each outing. Boone said he was “not sharp.”
“He was just missing with a little bit of everything,” Boone said. “The stuff was really good again. He had the swing-and-miss going, but he just started getting in some long counts.”
The fix next time, Warren said, could be simple -- throwing strike one, then strike two.
“I think it’s a mindset thing,” Warren said. “When you’re behind in the count, you’re trying to limit damage, and therefore you get finer. Then you miss a little bit. When you’re ahead in the count and you’re feeling good and attacking guys, then you have them on their heels.”
That had been the norm for Warren, especially against the Rangers. Last May 20 against Texas, Warren enjoyed the first scoreless start of his career, striking out a then-career-high 10 over 5 2/3 innings. In two starts against them last year, Warren struck out 15 over 10 2/3 frames.
But Eovaldi held the upper hand on Wednesday. After firing seven scoreless innings in a win over them last Wednesday at Globe Life Field, Eovaldi continued his mastery of his former club, improving to 5-2 with a 2.22 ERA in his last 11 starts against the Bombers.
“He got a lead, and he ran with it,” Boone said.